Kalayaan by Dennis Natividad · 365 Project “I am a Filipino born to freedom, and I shall not rest until freedom shall have been added unto my inheritance—for myself and my children and my children’s children—forever.” ― Carlos P. Romulo

The Tromba Marina sculpture serves as a reminder of the tsunami in 1735 that almost wiped out Baler.

The life-sized sculpture at the foot of Ermita Hill along the main road dramatizes what happened, a reminder what took place when tsunami hits the town.Only several families were able to climb the hill successfully and survived.

The Baler Catholic Church is a historic church constructed from stone and brick which is found in the town of Baler in the province of Aurora. Originally constructed in 1611, the church is dedicated to San Luis Obispo de Tolosa and is known as the site of the Siege of Baler, which took place from 1898-1899 shortly following the end of the Spanish colonization of the Philippines. The current church was built in 1939 but authentic original details may be seen inside, including the old bell, La Campana de Baler. There are markers that indicate the locations where events connected with the Siege of Baler took place.

The church of Baler was originally built in 1611. A Franciscan friar named Francisco de San Antonio supervised the construction of the wooden church, which was thatched with nipa. Dedicated to San Luis Obispo de Tolosa (St. Louis, Bishop of Toulouse), the church was later rebuilt in stone.

The church dating from this period eventually deteriorated. By 1939, First Lady Aurora Quezon led a move to renovate the church. The new stone and brick church has a painted exterior while the interior of the church has largely been preserved

Osmundo Vicente was a santero from Malabon, Province of Manila. He was uncle and mentor to prominent 20th Century santero, Maximo Vicente (1885-1964). Vicente signed and dated these processional Marian images at the bases of the heads. He also supplied the location of his taller – “Crespo, Letra T , Manila”. Calle General Crespo was later to be known as R. Hidalgo Street in Manila’s Quiapo District.

The current oil coloration of the heads and hands are more recent and atrributed to Alfredo Contreras of Navotas. The images share one manequin de bastidor, so that the same image at the end of Good Friday procession appears at the Easter Sunday Salubong, save for the countenance behindthe mourning veil.

The Mater Dolorosa’s accessories – rostrillo, heart and dagger – are of brass. Those of the Virgen Alegria – crown, jewelry as well as foliate and floral formson the garments – are of silver dorada a fuego and cut lead crystals weathered through time.